Crushed link between east and west

Bhairon Marg in one tired stretch. After all, it is the most-frequented road link connecting east Delhi with west and central Delhi, reports Atul Mathur.

Bhairon Marg in one tired stretch. After all, it is the most-frequented road link connecting east Delhi with west and central Delhi.

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Every day, this stretch ferries thousands of commuters from Ghaziabad, Noida and east Delhi's many residential colonies to their offices in the commercial hubs of Connaught Place and south Delhi.

Starting from the T-junction of National Highway 24 and passing through Millennium Park — a garbage dump turned green lung — Old Fort and Pragati Maidan, this 2.6-km stretch carries traffic much beyond its capacity everyday.

The distance, which can be covered in just three to four minutes during off-peak hours or on weekends, takes 45 minutes to an hour on a bad day.

Playing at full volume

The problem on this stretch is the sheer number of commuters.

Travellers moving from across the Yamuna to the Delhi airport or Delhi’s railway stations also travel this road.

This means additional traffic from colonies like Patparganj and IP Extension, and even from neighbouring states.

“The trouble starts as soon as you hit the traffic intersection near the Millennium Park. And once you get caught in the maze of vehicles, it is not less than an hour before you get the opportunity to step on the gas," said Kulbhushan Sharma, a Ministry of Urban Development employee, living in IP Extension.

“The respite comes only when you touch India Gate,” said Sharma.

Non stop ride

Experts and traffic officials blame the long non-stop ride from the NH 24 T-point to the Ring Road-Bhairon Marg T-point for the pile.

“The problem intensifies during the night when a long queue of commercial vehicles does not allow the other traffic to move on,” said P.K.Sikdar, former director, Central Road Research Institute.